Cook more often, to reduce your use of plastic-heavy takeout containers. That is why the United Nations Environmental Programme Secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags globally. Try reusable and compostable beeswax wrap for an easy and decorative option. The majority of plastic bags are made of polyethylene, a substance that is derived from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. They are tinier than a palm of your hand and appear so fragile when struggling across the beach to make it to the sea. Buy a metal or bamboo reusable straw. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. Plastic waste, mostly broken down into tiny particles, floats in huge blobs amid ocean current patterns called gyres that together cover as much as 40 percent of Earths ocean surface. They are also capable of being ingested by fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, which in turn causes the animals injury and, in the case of fish, allows them to enter the human food chain. Pack it alongside reusable cutlery (like wood, bamboo, or metal chopsticks) for sustainable eating on the go. Though plastica chain of synthetic polymers, essentiallywas invented in. This includes grocery plastic bags, Ziplock-type bags, dry cleaning bags and bread bags. A study analyzes water transactions that leave water in the river, and shows how they could be scaled up to avert cuts for major water users while supporting imperiled ecosystems. Also, giving a speech in . The bottom line of any plastic ban is that we must use less single-use plastics overall. "To us, it was the 'gateway plastic' to the larger, more . You are free to have your own personal opinion on whether or not we should ban plastic straws. Car Modifications for Electric Vehicles: Whats Possible. They are a part of our modern lives, and we dont tend to think much about them. We will Another indirect danger of plastic bags has breeding ground in the pollution they create. For the oceans sake, wed better hope so. The single biggest reason why people want to ban plastic straws is because of their negative effects on the environment. Paper vs. [PDF] Skip The Straw - 10 Reasons Fact Sheet - Kids. We should also try to give up plastic straws if we are capable of doing so. Here are a few more tips for ridding your life (and your community) of single-use plastics for good. Ultimately, we can further decrease costs and achieve economies of scale through decentralized production systems and perhaps also at large biorefineries. Ban of Plastic Can be Problematic. Each year on two far-flung Australian islands, more than half a million hermit crabs die after becoming trapped inside our plastic waste. This is the case particularly in Southeast Asia, which has begun to import much of the plastic that used to go to China for recycling. Most retailers will get your point, but it can also happen that they will not be willing to sell you some products without placing it in their plastic bags because of having to oblige with some hygiene and sanitary standards (for example when selling meat products). And cracker plantswhich break, or crack, ethane molecules, a component of natural gas, into the chemical building blocks of plastic productsare energy intensive and highly polluting. They end up in the water, eaten by wildlife, and inside our bodies. For example, some disabled people may not be able to properly hold or pick up a cup, so they need to use straws to drink properly. Sadly, one of their newly acquired enemies is created by us who should protect them instead. Look around and you will notice that plastic bags are the most common litter. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. At the beginning of July 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic straws. Instead of investing in quality goods that will last, we often prioritize convenience over durability and consideration of long-term impacts. According to a study carried out in 2013, up to 35 percent of turtle deaths were caused by plastic ingestion and the probability that sea turtles will consume even more plastic increases every year [9]. As communities act to ban single-use plastics and individual consumers raise concerns, bigger actors pay attention. Our addiction to plastic also has negative impacts on the climate. When the monsoon rains start, streets get waterlogged just after the first few minutes because the water cannot pass through clogged sewerage pipes. What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers? According to a study that was published by Bloomberg News, it is predicted that the percentage of contaminated ocean water that is caused by plastic straws and stirrers is a shockingly modest 0.03 percent. In 2015 researchers from the University of Georgia estimated that between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic per year make their way into the oceans via people living within 30 miles of a coast. Because they are so lightweight, plastic bags get easily picked up by wind and travel long distances by wind and water to pollute the nature. These pieces can be so small that they are invisible to our eye. New research shows their prolific dam building benefits river water quality so much, it outweighs the damaging influence of climate-driven droughts. Sugar and oils are too expensive. Many of the chemicals in plastics are known endocrine disruptors,and research has suggested that human exposure could cause health impacts including hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems like infertility, and even cancer. In early January 2020, China joined the growing movement of more than 120 countries pledging to ban single-use plastics.The country of 1.4 billion citizens is the No. They're bad for the environment, kill marine life and damage human health. Straws don't provide as much utility as bags, so for many this is an easy adjustment. Additionally, awareness raising campaigns create a social pressure that should inspire local government and institutions to help in making changes at a bigger scale, like a regional ban or levy. 13.07.2022 Harry Brown THE TOP 10 REASONS TO DO NOT USE THE STRAW O This requires the usage of 500 million straws Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful Every day in the United States. India, for example, generates 25,940 tons of plastic waste every day but collects only 60 percent of it. It is possible to enhance ones risk of developing cavities by using a straw while consuming liquids that are either sweet or acidic. 2. The trend has already started. It may not seem like much, but when you imagine how many bags they have to provide throughout a year, you will quickly realize that plastic bags are costly. Thats nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. These microscopic plastic fragments, no more than 5 millimeters long, are hard to detectand are just about everywhere. Plastic bags have become such a nuisance because we as consumers use them excessively even when not needed and authorities havent figured out effective ways of dealing with them as waste. The ban also kept them from littering neighborhoods and the environment. McDonald's recently announced . Disney is eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all its theme parks, resorts and properties. There are many uses for plastic that are not only reasonable but important, such as surgical gloves, or straws for people with disabilities. Put simply, single-use plastics are goods that are made primarily from fossil fuelbased chemicals (petrochemicals) and are meant to be disposed of right after useoften, in mere minutes. Left alone, plastics dont really break down; they just break up. 2. Without proper education, few people would know the purpose of the ban, and they would continue using other single-use plastics which could be even worse for the environment. We dont know how it will in the long term affect plankton-feeding species and their predators. Quick Navigation for Reasons Why Plastic Shopping Bags Should Be Banned, [1] https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/25496/singleUsePlastic_sustainability.pdf, [2] https://www.eco-business.com/opinion/getting-rid-of-plastic-bags-a-windfall-for-supermarkets-but-it-wont-do-much-for-the-environment/, [3] https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2018/04/09/plastic-chokes-dhakas-drainage/, [4] https://1bagatatime.com/learn/plastic-bags-petroleum/, [5] https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2935417&page=1, [6] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/, [7] https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/10/12/124006/pdf, [8] https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/rare-sea-turtles-eating-plastic-at-record-rate, [9] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cobi.12126, [10] http://www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr/index.en.php?id=934, [11] http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2008/12/plastic-bags-and-animals-making-the-wild-safe-for-wildlife/, [12] http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6374/460, [13] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/22/microplastics-found-in-human-stools-for-the-first-time, [14] https://1bagatatime.com/learn/plastic-bag-clean-costs/, [15] http://www.bagmonster.com/2010/04/the-true-cost-of-single-use-bags.html, [16] http://www.cep.unep.org/cep-documents/unep-press-release-on-the-effects-of-plastic-waste-on-marine-ecosystems.pdf, [17] https://greentumble.com/can-plastic-bags-be-recycled/, [18] https://1bagatatime.com/learn/plastic-bag-clean-costs/, [19] https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-many-countries-are-in-the-world.html, [20] https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/25496/singleUsePlastic_sustainability.pdf. Communities with good awareness about negative impacts of plastic bags have been more successful at enforcing the ban [20]. Her Stand-Up Paddleboard Is a Platform for Campaigning Against Plastic Pollution, A Growing Concern: Microplastic Pollution on Farm Fields. In effect, nature has designed this plastic for disassembly. According to the findings of a study that was carried out in 2019 by students at the University of Washington, 78 percent of respondents used straws made of biodegradable materials that are in compliance with the prohibition, and 68 percent used utensils that are in compliance with the ban. These dyes on their own can leach toxins, but they can also be contaminated with traces of heavy metals such as lead or cadmium, both of which affect kidney health and proper functioning of other organs. For example, in Botswana, the consumption of plastic bags dropped by 50 percent after the introduction of the tax in 2007. by TFK Kid Reporter Maria Suarez, 10 Bellaire, Texas Plastic straws should not be banned until we can find alternatives that are affordable, environmentally friendly, and acceptable for disabled people. Start from yourself and slowly expand to your family and friends. About; Disability Vote Blog; Organizer's Forum; Issues; News; NDLA Webinars Will others? Unfortunately, such a high level of pollution doesnt come without consequences. Plastic straws are not the first iteration of straws. But the sheer amount of plastic waste inundates communities until they are drowning under thousands of tons of plastic trash. All Rights Reserved. Skip the Straw - Florida Department of Environmental Protection You'll receive your first NRDC action alert and The first country to ban single-use plastic bags was Bangladesh in 2002 when plastic bag litter clogged drainage channels and contributed to destructive floods. Yes, it should. One of the most significant negative effects that plastic bags have on the natural world is that it takes a very long time for them to degrade.In addition, the breakdown of plastic bags in the sun results in the release of hazardous compounds into the surrounding soil, and the combustion of plastic bags results in the release of a poisonous material into the surrounding air, contributing to the problem of ambient air pollution. Such materials already exist in nature. For many in the disabled community, the availability of plastic straws is essential for their well-being and survival. Plastic bags floating in the ocean resemble jellyfish, one of the main sources of food for some species of sea turtles, especially the critically-endangered Leatherback turtles. The first answer to this question that comes to everyones mind is to stop using plastic bags, right? Using these non-renewable resources to make plastic bags is very short-sighted, considering that the typical useful life of each plastic bag is about 12 minutes and that the worlds oil reserves contain enough oil to cover our needs through 2050, as the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates. In many instances, it may seem too awkward for you to refuse the bag, so you accept it this one time, but you should know that it is fine to say no politely even at this stage if you dont want that bag. 2015-2023 Greentumble. What is the root of the problem (consumers or municipal waste management)? (Everything You Need To Know). 2. According to some estimates, the cost of plastic bag cleanup is about 17 cents per bag [14] and the cost is paid by us once again. No! Well, lets have a look at the most important reasons why single-use plastic bags should be banned right now. Not only is plastic estimated to kill millions of marine animals and seabirds each year, but its also contaminating seafood that humans have relied on for millennia, particularly with microplastics in animals guts. While these countries and municipalities have been making strides in their part of reducing circulation of plastic bags, in total there are 195 countries in the world [19] and the issue of plastic pollution is still getting out of our hands. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. Growing public concern has inspired movements to ban single-use plastics, most notably straws. The resulting number is staggering. Criddle isdirector of StanfordsCodiga Resource Recovery Center,a member ofStanford Bio-Xand an affiliate of thePrecourt Institute for Energy. Made from petroleum products, Baekland's " bakelite " plastic was a revolutionary material. But a whopping 91 percent of all plastic isnt recycled at all. Criddle and Leape are also senior fellows at theStanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Some opposers of the plastic straw ban say that a ban is unlikely to actually help the environment, as plastic straws do not make up a large percentage of plastic in the ocean. A last example of a true horror caused by plastic has been discovered just recently. Straws are said to be one of the top 10 objects recovered during beach clean-ups by the Ocean Conservancy. Is the Tide Turning on Our Plastic Addiction? As plastic bags are not disposed properly . O This requires the usage of 500 million straws, Straws and other items made of plastic are harmful, Every day in the United States. Since their birth, baby turtles have only one goal to get to the sea and swim into deep waters where they will feed and if successful grow into adult turtles. This includes waste collection, regular cleanups to remove plastic bag litter along the roads or blown away from landfills and then even processing at landfill sites. This measure should encourage people to switch to reusable alternatives. The people of Macon, Georgia, saw through it. But only a few of us realize that each time we accept those disposable plastic grocery bags at store checkout, we actively participate in wasting energy and depleting non-renewable resources. It was first invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. If this happens, there are a few scenarios you can follow: The best thing you can do with those old plastic bags that have been stashed in that overflowing drawer in your kitchen is to recycle them. Plastic waste that clogs water drainage channels and river tributaries of many Asian cities increases exposure of residents to water-borne diseases, as it creates a toxic soup that remains stranded in one place for prolonged periods of time. Consumer outrage about the plastics crisis is already commanding attention from big companies and from many governments. Another example of a locally issued ban is Seattle where not only single-use plastic bags have been banned but also single-use compostable and biodegradable bags. Large producers of single-use plastics can make a big environmental impact. Reducing plastic use is the most effective means of avoiding this waste (and the impacts linked to plastic production and use). The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step, offering a natural place to start with low-hanging fruit so long as its part of a much more fundamental shift away from single-use plastics across the value chains of these companies and our economy. What Is Plastic Made Of And How Is It Manufactured? And recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. In fact, it is estimated that up to 10 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world [1]. For example, millions of discarded plastic bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. The process of drilling for plastics source materials, oil and gas, leads to methane leaking and flaring and is often combined with clearing forests and wetlands that otherwise would have sequestered carbon. Policies like bottle bill lawswhich generally require retailers to add a fee on individual bottles, which can then be partially redeemed by customers when they recycleare a way to increase corporate responsibility for waste while providing a monetary incentive to recycle. Lizzie Carr is shining a light on what is floating through the worlds waterways, and breaking athletic records along the way. Thanks for signing up. It started with cardboard straws, but once plastic production in America increased, people realized it was quicker and cheaper to produce plastic straws. You can be sure of one thing, though. The cashier usually understands, only had to do what instructed and what most customers expect (unfortunately) from him or her. What does occur in most instances is that when out in the environment, the plastic breaks up into tiny microscopic pieces that get deposited in soils (where we grow food) or contaminate waterways. What never leaves, Read More Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling: How to Prevent Damage to Marine EcosystemsContinue, Top 3 Ways Kids can Help the Earth! Sea turtles are not the only species suffering from plastic bag pollution of the environment. Those global companies can be important levers in driving change and shifting to a regenerative, circular economy. We can also decrease costs through improved bioprocessing methods, through metabolic engineering and by exploring and harnessing the incredible diversity of bioplastic-making systems that evolution has already created. LEAPE:Microplastics pervade the oceans. Have you ever seen endangered sea turtles hatch? According to a 2017 study, more than half of non-fiber plastic, which excludes synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, comes from plastic packaging alone, much of which is for single-use items. Divers, for example, descend 130 feet under the water, seek unique-looking creatures, and observe the marine world in all its glory. America Needs a Plastics Intervention. We should just stick to plastic. Once a person gets into the habit of bringing reusable bags when shopping, it is not much of an inconvenience at all. According to market research firms, Americans use about 350 million plastic straws every single day. McDonalds swapped its plastic straws for paper at its United Kingdom and Ireland restaurants. The small pilot whale, found in a Thai canal this past June, is another symptom of a crisis in the worlds oceans. So, for example, companies need to not only make products that are recyclable, but actually make them out of recycled or truly biodegradable material. Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on this site may be referral or affiliate links. Not only does the waste destroy the land itself, but when plastic is incinerated (as is the case for unrecyclable plastic at some illegal facilities) its toxic fumes quickly become a health hazard for residents, leading to everything from skin rashes to cancer. The answer isnt as simple as you may think: While its true that paper straws arent as harmful as plastic straws, this doesnt mean that, Read More Paper vs. National Geographic made a video on how helpless it feels to be caught in a plastic bag. . State Disclosures. Your email address will not be published. By comparison, an estimated 46 percent of all pollution in the ocean is made up of lost or abandoned fishing gear (Vox). If it looks clean, smells clean (and sounds clean! We shouldnt ban plastic straws if it creates an accessibility issue. Similar fate has met dolphins, seals, cats, dogs, deer and many other animals which got severely cut on their bodies due to plastic bag entanglement. It means that most bags can be recycled. So, retailers incorporate this cost hiddenly into prices of other items sold at stores. The explanation is quite simple. The production of these bags is very energy intensive. Not only does banning single-use plastic reduce pollution, but it also reduces demand for plastic production thats contributing to global climate change. Activists Say Straws Should Be Banned Because They Are a 'Gateway Plastic' Advocates hope a straw ban will be the first step toward broader plastic prohibitions. Busca trabajos relacionados con Reasons why smoking should be banned articles o contrata en el mercado de freelancing ms grande del mundo con ms de 22m de trabajos.